Two players, ten cards each. You arrange your cards into groups and try to keep the leftover cards (your deadwood) as low as possible. The first player to 100 points wins the game.
Teach it in a minute
- The goal: Arrange your ten cards into sets (same rank) and runs (in a row, one suit), and keep the leftover points low.
- Your turn: Pick up one card (face-down pile or the face-up discard), then throw one away.
- How a hand ends: When your leftover points (deadwood) are 10 or less you may knock. Lower deadwood scores the difference.
- What people get wrong: If the other player ends up with the same or lower deadwood than the knocker, they win and get 25 extra (an undercut).
- First-game tip: Throw away high cards that don't fit anywhere. A loose King costs 10; a loose 2 costs 2.
Groups
- Set: 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (8♠ 8♥ 8♦).
- Run: 3 or more in a row in one suit (4♥ 5♥ 6♥). Aces are low: A-2-3 counts, Q-K-A doesn't.
- Each card can only be in one group.
- Cards not in a group are deadwood, counted as points: Ace 1, number cards their number, J Q K 10.
- The app sorts your hand into the best groups for you automatically, so you only decide what to pick up and throw away.
Your turn
- Take one card: the face-down top card of the stock, or the face-up top card of the discard pile.
- Throw one card face up onto the discard pile. You can't throw back the card you just took from the discard pile.
You always end your turn with ten cards.
Ending a hand
- Knock: when your deadwood is 10 or less after throwing a card, you may end the hand. Both players show their cards.
- The other player may lay off: add their loose cards to your groups, so those cards stop counting against them.
- If your deadwood is lower, you score the difference.
- Undercut: if their deadwood ends up equal to or lower than yours, they score the difference plus 25.
- Gin: no deadwood at all. You score their deadwood plus 25, and they can't lay off.
- If the stock runs down to 2 cards with nobody knocking, the hand is cancelled.
Why it works like this
- Deadwood is counted in points. It rewards getting rid of high cards first, so even a hand that isn't complete can be close to winning.
- You can knock before you're finished. It adds a gamble: end the hand early while you're ahead, or wait for a better hand and risk being beaten.
- The other player can lay off cards on your groups. It punishes knocking with groups the other player can use, and makes your choice of groups matter.
- An undercut scores a 25 bonus. It stops players knocking too early with high deadwood.
- Gin means no laying off and a 25 bonus. A complete hand deserves a clear reward.
Common questions
- Can I play with friends? Yes. Press Play with friends to make a room, then send the link. The table has two seats; computer players fill any empty seat, and a friend who arrives later can take one over. Each player has their own coach, which only sees their own cards.
- Do I have to knock as soon as I can? No, it's your choice. Knocking early usually pays.
- Can I rearrange my groups? The app always shows the arrangement with the least deadwood.
- Who goes first? The player who didn't deal. The deal alternates.
The quickest way to learn is to play a hand: the coach explains each rule the moment it matters. Start a game of Gin Rummy →